Reading as a cheap hobby

CapricornLass

I read a lot too.  Georgette Heyer, Terry Pratchett, Katie Fford, the British Library Cosy Crime, Lindsay Davis.  Other detective series, including DL Sayers and Ngaio Marsh, and all sorts of things in between.  , And I still read Roald Dhal and CS Lewis' Narnia books from time to time.  Oh, and Mog the Forgetful Cat!

If anyone is looking for a really good new read, look out for Bandit Queens by Parini Shroff. It has a twist at the ed - but not in the novel itself.  I really enjoyed it.

Floss

PipneyJane said:

Growing up




Currently reading:


...I’d rather read dead-tree books, even though I have hundreds of Kindle editions, all bought cheaply via BookBub.


- Pip

I loves BookBub, but also buy dead tree versions of my favourite authors for rereading. Hope your treatment goes well x

Time2count

I prefer real books to a kindle, it's too difficult to flick back a few pages to double check something on a kindle, plus so few words on the page, and you can't flick through before starting as you can with a real book.

I am a very quick reader, I go to the library every couple of weeks and am usually on book 2 within a few hours of getting home, unfortunately housework suffers!

I loved Enid Blyton as a child and only discovered Sherlock Holmes in my 20s - thank goodness they've discovered lots of cases that Dr Watson couldn't publish at the time so that is the gift that keeps on giving it the moment! The MX Book of Sherlock Holmes series if anyone is interested.

I do find it impossible to read the same book twice though, it just doesn't do it for me when I already know how it ends. Although I have on occasion borrowed a book from the library and got through 2 or 3 chapters before I realised I know what's coming next.

I'm working my way through the Jack Reacher books atm, although annoyingly my library only stocks around 7 of them so am forced to buy them occasionally but that really is a massive luxury as a few hours later and the book is finished.

I live in a tower block and lots of us leave pre-loved books in the lobby to be scooped up and enjoyed by our neighbours which is nice.

I can't read sci FI or fantasy, I have to be able to believe in the story, but I'm the same with films/ tv

tooldle

I’m a reader. The local branch library is at the bottom of my garden (we share a boundary).  Climbing over the railings is not the done thing,  so a minutes walk via the road. Our county uses BorrowBox and I’m hoping this will negate the need to take a large number of books on every holiday. Normally I raid the library’s for sale section and, the local charity shop for my holiday supply.

I’ve just finished ‘Three Sisters’ by Heather Morris. My preferred genre being thrillers. 

carolbee

We are lucky enough to have lots of book ‘hutches’ around our large village. I am a keen library user. Friends and I swap books around all the time.

when I was growing up I was fortunate to have a librarian who would suggest titles to me to read.

If I run out of books, I couldn't be responsible for my actions ......

annieb64

I use our local library and also have Kindle Unlimited. My eldest DD and I swap books.My youngest DD is a great reader too but we don't share the same taste in books. 

My mother confiscated my copy of "To Kill a Mockingbird". It was one of my set texts for English O Level. I brought it home from school and my mother read the synopsis on the back. The word "rape" was mentioned so she took the book away and wouldn't let me have it back until she had read it.

MrsStepford

Our local library is closed at the moment because it has suffered storm damage, making it unsafe. I recall that it had DVDs and before that, CDs to borrow @Mnoee. When we started going low carb, I went to the library and made lots of photocopies of recipes. 

The nature of cookbooks has changed, it's not enough now just to write an introduction and cram in recipes without notes, illustrations or photos. Like my mother, I read cookbooks in bed and they have to give a sense of the native food, the traditional recipes and something of the author's backstory. Rick Stein does this well @Floss I agree.

My favourite cookbook is A Table in Provence  by Leslie Forbes and I just sent a copy to my cousin in Vancouver and she loves it too.

Yes yes @dp1 I read all those boarding school tales too and wanted to go and play hockey (which I loved) eat tuck and have adventures. My mother loaned me her Famous Five books and I saw myself as the tomboy, George. 

I love that new book smell @PipneyJane and if I win the lottery... I commuted for eight years in total and pre-HS1, the trains from Kent were so slow, that I was able to read on the way up. I would often miss my station on the way back and Pa would get grumpy when I called him to say that I was in Charing, Pluckley or Wye. I don't know if Georgette Heyer lived in Kent, but she would name characters after local villages e.g. Miss Kitty Charing. I loved her Georgian romantic heroes with breeches and shiny boots @bouicca21 . I met a man in a Drizabone, Akubra hat and full tails, in a snowy field. Didn't see him again for eight years but we became engaged two months after meeting again ! 

I'm on my ninth Kindle, and the batteries are always always pants. Other than that they are brilliant. I prefer the smaller ones so that I can stick one in a pocket. Husband bought me two in December 2022 and they are the worst. 

I haven't read any Farley Mower @Brambling will add to my list. I went to school in Toronto @Brie but managed to avoid Anne of Green Gables, which seems a bit like Little Women to me. I hated that book, but loved A Tale of Two Cities, Great Expectations and Wuthering Heights. Still have the copy of Heidi I had as a child and will have to re-read that as I don't remember the story. 

More posts please this is fun! 

Floss

MrsStepford said:

Our local library is closed at the moment because it has suffered storm damage, making it unsafe. I recall that it had DVDs and before that, CDs to borrow @Mnoee. When we started going low carb, I went to the library and made lots of photocopies of recipes.   

When at primary school our library (part of Oldham libraries) had a scheme where you could borrow not just books but LPs and art for your wall. My dad was pally with the Chief Librarian at Salford Council through their professional body, and he invited Dad, my 2 older brothers & me to view some of their stored artwork, including at least 6 Lowry's, which are now on display in the Lowry Gallery. Sadly those weren't available for loan!

Brambling

I never got on with reading Charles Dickens but I've always loved the TV adaptations maybe that is also the memory of Sunday tea and watching them as a family.  After A level English literature I have never attempted Chaucer again too many hours translating it to then dissect it word for word 😴 

I'll read most things and also have nightmares about running out of books, however I don't read horror probably due to reading Denis Wheatley and James Herbert in my mid teens.  I still have a phobia about rats 🐀 therefore I haven't read any Stephen King. 

I prefer proper books but I do own a kindle, it is definitely handy when going away, I can get through 5 or 6 books in a fortnight which can be a pain to pack, and free kindle books is an ideal way to try new authors 

Brie

Sad but true story from a friend of ours that my OH used to teach with.

When he was a lad he was given a bit of money for Christmas, probably no more than a pound or two, and when asked by a relative what he was going to spend it on, our friend said he was going to buy a book.  The relative responded with surprise asking "Why would you do that?  You already have one!!"